On the heels of an impressive showing at the Clyde Littlefield Texas Relays last week in Austin, Texas, the Oregon women’s track and field team takes on a tough Washington squad Saturday.
And the potential for more is just at the Ducks’ fingertips.
Oregon took home five first-place finishes in Texas, which included stellar marks from juniors Mary Etter and Becky Holliday, and sophomore Sarah Malone.
Malone led the field in the javelin throw, and was followed up closely by freshman Elisa Crumley and junior Charyl Weingarten. Add freshman Roslyn Lundeen — who did not make the trip to Texas due to an injury — to the mix, and Oregon is a force in the event.
“This is certainly the best group we’ve ever had, and maybe the best foursome any school has ever had,” head coach Tom Heinonen said of his javelin squad.
However, the Washington Dual meet may not represent much of a competition for the javelin four, as Washington is not strong in the event. However, it will give them a chance to stay in shape, possibly looking ahead to next weekend’s Mt. SAC Relays in Walnut, Calif.
“They love to compete at Hayward, (but) it’s not a big meet for them in that event,” Heinonen said. “It’s highly likely we’ll go one-two in that event.
Oregon has defeated Washington seven of the last nine times the two schools have met, with the Ducks prevailing last season, 88-65. The all-time series gives Oregon the big advantage, 26-5, but that may not be the case this year.
Heinonen said junior Janette Davis has been suffering from shin problems, which may keep her from running against the Huskies. Davis, a Pacific-10 Conference qualifier in the 400-meter dash, was expected to contribute heavily to Oregon’s sprint group.
Another pivotal competitor, freshman Clarice Hayward-Lee, has her foot in a boot, said Heinonen, but it is unknown as to the extent of injury.
“If we don’t have Janette and Clarice, we will be in trouble,” Heinonen said.
Despite both athletes’ absences, the Ducks are still expected to do well against the Huskies, particularly in the field events. Besides javelin, the Ducks have had competitors in the pole vault, discus and shot put do well on a consistent basis all season.
Two athletes have been the primary reason for Oregon’s resurgence in these areas, and look to be the front-runners to take first against Washington.
Etter, who took both sections of the discus last week in Texas and was second in the shot put, is one of many Ducks to earn a NCAA provisional mark, but is the only one to do it in two different events.
Last week she set a personal best in the shot put at 49-feet-9.25 inches, and came within two feet of her career best of 175-9 in the discus.
“I was happy with my performance,” Etter said. “I’m still going for that 180 (foot) goal.”
In the pole vault, the Ducks have not one, but two NCAA provisional qualifiers. Junior Becky Holliday, who also has an NCAA automatic mark at 13-7.25, and sophomore Kirsten Riley team together as a solid group.
Riley placed seventh last week at the Relays with a mark of 11-11.75.
But it is Holliday who has national title aspirations. Her top outdoor mark is currently fourth in the country, but is still far behind her personal best of 14-4, good enough for second in the collegiate ranks last season.
“She got an NCAA automatic mark and she won the event on her first jump,” Heinonen said of Holliday’s results last week. “She wants to go higher and she has in the past. It’s still an adaptation process for her.”
While the Ducks are expected to excel in the team’s field events, the sprinters are still a mixed bag.
Oregon has its fair share of Pac-10 qualifying marks, earned by Davis, junior Eri MacDonald, sophomore Annette Mosey and freshman Laura Harmon. However, more has been expected of the talented group.
“We’d love to see our sprint group demonstrate our potential because there’s been a sense of frustration in the 100 and 200,” Heinonen said. “Our athletes are much better than they’ve shown.”